We partnered with Ajuda de Mãe, the Portuguese non-governmental organization to collect food for young mothers and their babies. The project was called ‘Cuide de si, cuidando dos outros’ which means ‘Take care of yourself by taking care of others’. During the whole month of April, the 96 Vivafit gyms all over the country received contributions from its members, staff and local partners gathering more 60,000 items of rice, baby food, cookies, pasta and UHT milk – the most necessary food supplies according to our partner. This social campaign engaged more than 40,000 women in the Vivafit gyms and allowed Ajuda de Mãe to gather the largest food donation in its 18 year of existence.

Class participants were encouraged to shake off their calories in Zumba classes worldwide, with Zumba donating the equivalent of the average amount of calories burned per class (750 calories) to the United Nations World Food Programme. So when a participant ‘burns’ the equivalent of a meal, Zumba buys one meal. During the three-month campaign, Zumba Fitness is challenging the world to donate 2.6 billion calories that will equate to 3.5 million meals (based on the typical meal size) toward hunger-relief efforts.

We charge members three Danish Kroner to take a one-minute shower – that is around $0.50 cents. While our members are enjoying their lovely hot shower, there are other people in the world that have no access to water, so we thought about connecting these two moments together. So now, when one of our members takes a shower, the money they spend goes directly to build a fresh water well in Africa.